The Naked Finn

Sunday Lunch for Min

There is a Whatsapp group set up by several former interns (and now close friends) - to have meals with me when I visit Singapore. We meet and eat, and talk about their lives there, and their plans for the future. I tease them about how much money they are making, that they should treat me to more meals when I visit.

The 3 of them are amongst many Malaysians who decided to work in Singapore. Many leave after obtaining their degrees for the higher pay and favourable exchange rate and never return. Even when they leave Singapore, many do not return to Malaysia.

Sketch 12/30 - Bay Hotel (Dec 2012)

A long afternoon in Singapore

As much as I look forward to trips away from Kuching - such as the recent Taipei trip; I usually start missing Sam and the kids within a day. This is especially pronounced when I do not have enough to occupy my mind, or if I see something I know they would like. 


So after lunch with Stephen, SiYong and Peggy - I set off to 'occupy' my long afternoon. I got out into the heat, away from the underground shopping arcades.  I joined the tourists and Fillipino maids on their day off, at Marina Bay

After half an hour, it got too hot so I escaped into the Esplanade lobby where there are often free concerts in the afternoon. Today was no different; a local percussion band was playing, practicing actually but it offered a soothing backdrop to be in the company of strangers enjoying a free 'gig'

I sat on one of the triangular seats at the base of the columns; next to a dating couple and eavesdropped on their conversation. He is thinking of changing jobs; she thinks they should take that Europe trip. It was a bit warm and stuffy, I doze off in between lines on paper. Finally the sketches are done.          Time for my customary S$ 1 ice cream wafer 

Kuching - Singapore - Taipei

Twenty of us traveled to Taipei with an overnight layover in Singapore - architects, two chefs, a surveyor and some of their spouses. Our hotel was in Little India where streets were lined with shops selling Indian food, I knew it would be an eventful trip when a female voice behind me called out to the tour guide in Mandarin "Miss, is there anything nice to eat around here?"

 Two important things happened to me on this short stop in Singapore; my initiation to Handburger's "Burger with the Lot" and my first visit to Mustapha's - Little India's 24-hour department store.

At 5 a.m.the next morning, we were at Changi Terminal One again to board Jetstar 3K 721 to Taipei.

Next stop Taipei

Losing yourself

I love the company of people; but sometimes it is necessary to be alone. To fill in the gaps in the day's thoughts. Much like the colouring in of sketches and the adding of shadows and textures that add depth. It is also time to think and lose yourself for a short spell. 
These sketches describe a departure from the day's tasks - as architect, father, husband, tutor. In those spare hours, I can lose myself and be anonymous. A small format sketch book is helpful so that I can always have it with me. And these stolen moments are short so the sketches have to be concise.

Angela's Ashes

Cathedral of Good Shepherd

Many years ago, I had the good fortune to listen to Angela's Ashes read by the author, Frank McCourt - I was in the car with young Sean and Sara who enjoyed the story telling (and the gentle humour) very much. Recently, I decided to re-read the book and bought a second hand copy from a Bras Basah bookstore. Here's an excerpt:

"From October to March the walls of Limerick glistened with the damp. Clothes never dried; tweed and woolen coats housed living things, sometimes sprouted mysterious vegetation. In pubs, steam rose from damp bodies and garments to be inhaled with cigarette and pipe smoke laced with the stale fumes of spilled stout and whiskey and tinged with the odour of piss wafting in from the outdoor jakes where many a man puked up his week’s wages

The rain drove us into the church – our refuge, our strength, our only dry place. At Mass, Benediction, novenas, we huddled in great damp clumps, dozing through priest drone, while steam rose from our clothes to mingle with the sweetness of incense, flowers and candles.

Limerick gained a reputation for piety, but we knew it was only the rain."

courtesy of the Banana-man

Drawing Out Your Day

Breakfast at the Ibis Hotel where I stayed for 8 nights was the same everyday, which helped reinforce my daily routine of squeezing in a quick run in the early morning before going to 'work' at the third year studio. 

I ate alone - but had my novels and sketch book to keep me accompany.These are some of the people in the breakfast crowd.
 

This impatient man was waiting for his wife to check out - full of anxious energy and frowns.

The Workshop consist of 150 students from NUS whom I saw daily for a week; they helped me with my daily commute, which involved taking the SMRT Bus 806 from the Dept. of Design and Environment to Clementi MRT which takes to Bugis MRT. From there, I walk a short distance to Ibis Hotel on Bencoolen Road.

On some days, I take a detour and visit museums or shops; I saw the terracotta warriors at the Asian Civilisation Museum with Tao and friend.

 
Some days, my friends would take me to look at new buildings such as the University Town across the road from NUS. Most of the building there are bland American copies with the exception of Mok Wei Wei's building. 

Mostly, I was happy to explore and sketch, I did two quick sketches (5-10 minutes) of the old Mandarin Oriental Hotel which is now wearing a new 'skirt' of sweeping glass and steel curves that is Mandarin Square.

The Singapore Management Universtiy

Back to Uni

Last month, I was invited to lead the Tropical Architecture Workshop at NUS (National University of Singapore)

This annual event is the first project for 150 third year students. My theme is based on the idea of a tropical ‘village’ where students have to analyze the simple activities of eating/cooking, sleeping/resting and washing. The brief called for usage of passive cooling devices and consideration of interspatial relationship and the possible development of prototypes.

I prepared this pictorial documentary of the 7-day workshop, choosing to focus on the activities that took place and relationships made rather than the products of the workshop. For me, the real lessons learnt during the 7 days do not always show themselves in the final panels. These are lessons in teamwork, discourse and disagreements followed by decision and delegation of work, ending in an articulate presentation of their ideas. Much of which was done in a seriousness and skill that belie their mere two years in Architecture School; resulting in a body of work that explored social issues, urban planning, ecology, industrial design and energy renewal. The most enjoyable (and impressive) aspect of this workshop was the students’ ability to explain (and argue) their ideas at a moment’s notice, and without much sleep one might add.

For me, these are the rewards: to work with smart motivated young people that point towards the future of our profession. 

These are some samples of the students' work

In Memoriam

Kok Ming took us on an 'Architecture of Death' tour - my favourite was the Kranji War Memorial. Set on a hill with manicured lawns - the Memorial is dedicated to the Commonwealth soldiers who died defending Singapore and Malaya against the invading Japanese forces during WOrld War II.
The two sweeping wings represent the Air Force, sheltering the "Army" columns engraved with names of the fallen, while the submarine's sail stands for the Navy.

Headstones at the Kranji War Memorial

While there - I was reminded of Kemal Ataturk's tribute to the ANZACs in Gallipoli, 
  "......You the mothers who sent their sons from far away countries, wipe away your tears. Your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. Having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well."  It moves me every time I read it.

Singapore marathon

Casinos being built across the Esplanade; there are two major casinos under construction in Singapore at the moment. This one is more ordered in its design and may be interesting to visit - the one in Sentosa is quite gaudy and looks like a theme park, which befits its location.

This is Sara Wee running in Singapore; she is 14 and has recently developed an interest in middle distance running. She runs for her school; SMK Batu Lintang and would like to win a State-level medal soon.

 

While in Singapore for the marathon; we stayed near the Esplanade and spent quite some time walking around the area; sketching the new buildings and even had time to catch a show in the Esplanade Theatre.